The Planning Phase of the PPBE Process is the definition and examination of alternative strategies, the analysis of changing conditions and trends, threat, technology, and economic assessments in conjunction with efforts to understand both change and the long-term implications of current choices. It examines and determines the needs for the DoD for the next 5, 10, and 20+ years into the future from strategic guidance.

The Planning Phase is the process for determining what capabilities are needed for the future from strategic guidance

The Planning phase of PPBE is a collaborative effort by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Staff, in coordination with DoD components. It begins with a resource-informed articulation of national defense policies and ends military strategy known as the Defense/Joint Planning Guidance (DPG).  The DPG is used to lead the overall planning process. This process results in fiscally constrained guidance and priorities – for military forces, modernization, readiness and sustainability, and supports business processes and infrastructure activities. The DPG is the link between planning and programming phase and provides guidance to the DoD Components (military departments and defense agencies) for the development of their program proposals, known as the Program Objective Memorandum (POM). [1]

Strategic guidance that is used during the Planning phase include:

• National Security Strategy (NSS)
• National Military Strategy (NMS)
• National Defense Strategy (NDS)
• Strategic Planning Guidance (SPG)
• Defense Planning Guidance (DPG)

Budget Preparation Schedule

• February: Future Year Defense Program (FYDP) Updated
• April: DoD Send Defense Planning Guidance (DPG) to Services
• 30 July: Services submit Program Objective Memorandum (POM) and Budget Estimate Submission (BES) to OSD, CAPE and OMB for Review (FYDP Updated)
• October – December: Joint OMB-OSD review leading to Resource Management Decision (RMD)
• December: DoD Budget Request sent to OMB
• 1st Monday of February: Presidents Budget due to Congress

AcqLinks and References:

• [1] Defense Acquisition Guidebook (DAG) – Chapter 1
• DoD Directive 7045.14 Program Planning Budget & Execution (PPBE) Process
• DoD Army PPBE Executive Overview
• Procedures and Schedule for FY 10-15 Integrated Program and Budget Review
• Presentation: Navy Budget PPBE System
• Website: Defense Acquisition Portal – PPBE

Updated: 9/23/2020

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